A cargo ship equipped with stiff sails, each 10 stories tall, embarked on its maiden voyage. The Pyxis Ocean vessel will test WindWings sails designed by BAR Technologies to harness old-school wind power to help reduce fuel use and the shipping industry’s CO2 emissions.A new type of sail that reduces emissions
The developers of the WindWings sail estimate that the technology could decarbonize cargo ships by around 30 percent as the shipping industry seeks to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The estimated reduction may be higher when paired with alternative fuels. Pyxis Ocean’s cargo ship has two WindWing sails, each 37.5 m in length. Made from the same materials as wind turbines and added to the decks of cargo ships, these sails offer the option for older ships to reduce their environmental impact. This technology, first tested in the open sea, is now on its way from China to Brazil.
The shipping industry agreed in July to cut its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero “by or around 2050”. This agreement is not binding, but it is important as it gives a signal to governments where to set their (binding) targets. Limitations in the maritime sector and other major industrial sectors aim to keep global warming steady at 1.5 degrees Celsius.Wind energy has the potential to help meet these goals, but adoption is difficult. Stephen Gordon, managing director of maritime data firm Clarksons Research, told the BBC that the number of ships using the technology has doubled in the last 12 months, but this data comes from a small base. In the international marine fleet and newbuild order book of more than 110,000 ships, there are fewer than 100 ship registrations with wind-assisted technology today. These point to the need for more binding rules for shipping.
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